~ 1
■ noun
1》 the head of the chapter of a cathedral or collegiate church.
↘(also rural ~ ) Brit. a member of the clergy exercising supervision over a group of parochial clergy within a division of an archdeaconry.
2》 the head of a university faculty or department or of a medical school.
↘a college officer with a disciplinary role.
Derivatives
~ery noun ( plural ~eries ).
Origin
ME: from OFr. deien , from late L. decanus 'chief of a group of ten', from decem 'ten'; cf. doyen .
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~ 2
■ noun variant spelling of dene 1 .